predicatecomplement

A predicate complement is a word or group of words that completes the meaning of a verb, usually a linking verb, and refers back to the subject of the sentence. These complements function similarly to direct objects in that they receive the action of the verb, but because linking verbs do not express action, the complement renames or describes the subject. The most common linking verbs are forms of "to be" such as is, am, are, was, and were. Other linking verbs include verbs of the senses like look, feel, sound, taste, and smell, as well as verbs like become, seem, appear, and remain.

There are two main types of predicate complements: predicate nominatives and predicate adjectives. A predicate nominative is a noun or pronoun that follows a linking verb and renames the subject. For example, in the sentence "She is a doctor," the noun "doctor" is a predicate nominative, renaming "she." A predicate adjective is an adjective that follows a linking verb and describes the subject. In the sentence "The sky is blue," the adjective "blue" is a predicate adjective, describing "sky." Understanding predicate complements is crucial for analyzing sentence structure and ensuring grammatical accuracy.